This Is How I Feel

This Is How I Feel
Studio album by
Tank
ReleasedMay 8, 2012
Length39:55
LabelAtlantic
Producers
Tank chronology
Now or Never
(2010)		 This Is How I Feel
(2012)		 Stronger
(2014)
Singles from This Is How I Feel
  1. "Compliments"
    Released: October 17, 2011
  2. "Next Breath"
    Released: January 3, 2012

This is How I Feel is the fifth studio album by the R&B singer Tank. It was released by Atlantic Records on May 8, 2012.[1] The album was created as a more personal and spontaneous project, with Tank focusing on expressing his emotions, life experiences, and artistic freedom rather than following a specific concept. The project allowed him to explore different sounds while remaining rooted in R&B, creating music without being limited by outside expectations. The album features contributions from producers and collaborators including Danja, Eric Hudson, Kevin McCall, T-Minus, and Troy Taylor.

The album received mixed reviews, with critics praising Tank’s vocals and polished production while criticizing its predictable themes and lack of originality. This is How I Feel debuted at number nine on the US Billboard 200 with 33,000 first-week sales and topped the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, becoming Tank's third number-one R&B album after Force of Nature (2001) and Sex, Love & Pain (2007). The album was supported by two singles, including lead single "Compliments" featuring Kris Stephens and T.I., and follow-up "Next Breath," which topped the Adult R&B Songs chart.

Background

Following the success of Now or Never (2010), Tank prepared his fifth studio album, This Is How I Feel, as a more personal and spontaneous project.[2] In an interview with YouKnowIGotSou, Tank explained that the album was not built around a specific concept but instead focused on capturing his emotions and experiences in the moment.[2] He described the project as an opportunity to create music without worrying about expectations, allowing him to explore different sounds while staying rooted in R&B.[2]

Singles

This Is How I Feel was preceded by two singles. The album’s lead single, "Compliments," was released on October 17, 2011, featuring Kris Stephens and a guest verse from T.I. on the album version.[3] It peaked at number 75 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reached number 20 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The second single, "Next Breath," was released on January 3, 2012, and achieved greater success on R&B charts, reaching number one on the Adult R&B Songs chart and number 27 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, becoming his second chart topper on the adult contemporary chart.[4]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarHalf star[5]
PopMattersStarStarStarStar[6]

David Jeffries of AllMusic wrote that "Long a cross between Brian McKnight and R. Kelly, R&B's smooth – but chiseled – operator Tank tips the scales toward the [Kelly] side on his 2012 release, filling the album with dreamy, lush productions and 'adults-only' lyrics that sometimes reach the level of 'shameful adults only'."[5] PopMatters editor David Amidon found that This Is How I Feel "clocks in as Tank’s shortest project yet at just ten tracks and 40 minutes, but somehow it still manages to be something of a trial to get through [...] If you’re just an unabashed fan of male R&B vocals, or the sight of Tank’s pecs on the cover has some sort of brainwashing effect on you, This Is How I Feel might be worth a few cursory spins on Spotify or what have you, but otherwise this is a release that will come and go with very little fanfare."[6] Writing for The Washington Post, Allison Stewart viewed the project as a technically polished but overly familiar R&B album. She praised Tank's vocal talent and ability as a ballad singer but criticized the record for lacking a unique artistic identity, relying too heavily on predictable relationship themes, and using excessive production effects.[7]

Commercial performance

This Is How I Feel debuted at number nine on the US Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 33,000 copies,[8] becoming the second top-ten album of Tank's career.[9] It also debuted at number one on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, marking his third album to top the chart following Force of Nature (2001) and Sex, Love & Pain (2007).[10]

Track listing

This Is How I Feel – Physical edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Lonely" (featuring Chris Brown)
Invisible4:54
2."Your One"
  • J-Kits
  • Taylor
3:47
3."Compliments" (featuring Kris Stephens & T.I.)
T-Minus4:12
4."Don't Give Up"Babbs
  • Tank
  • The Composer
3:28
5."Nowhere" (featuring Busta Rhymes)
  • Babbs
  • Bentley
  • Bereal
  • Smith
  • Monroe
Tank3:31
6."Off Your Hands"
  • Babbs
  • Kevin McCall
McCall3:37
7."This Is How I Feel"
Danja4:16
8."Next Breath"
  • Babbs
  • Christopher Umana
  • McCall
  • Micah Powell
  • Sammie Bush
  • Tank
  • The Composer
  • Christopher "C4" Umana
  • Rex Rideout
3:30
9."Better Than Me"
  • Tank
  • Hudson
3:53
10."Lost It All"
  • Babbs
  • Patrick Hayes
  • Taylor
  • Hayes
  • Taylor
4:42
This Is How I Feel – Digital edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."How I Feel (Intro)"BabbsTank2:10
2."Lonely" (featuring Chris Brown)
  • Babbs
  • Brown
  • Hailey
  • DeGrate
  • Bentley
  • Bereal
  • Smith
  • Stephens
  • Monroe
  • Watson
Invisible4:54
3."Your One"
  • Babbs
  • Spruill
  • Taylor
  • J-Kits
  • Taylor
3:47
4."Compliments (Interlude)"BabbsTank1:27
5."Compliments" (featuring Kris Stephens & T.I.)
  • Babbs
  • Harris
  • Stephens
T-Minus4:12
6."Don't Give Up"Babbs
  • Tank
  • The Composer
3:28
7."Nowhere" (featuring Busta Rhymes)
  • Babbs
  • Bentley
  • Bereal
  • Smith
  • Monroe
Tank3:31
8."Off Your Hands"
  • Babbs
  • McCall
McCall3:37
9."This Is How I Feel (Interlude)"BabbsTank2:03
10."This Is How I Feel"
  • Babbs
  • Stephens
  • Boyd
  • Araica
  • Hills
Danja4:16
11."Next Breath"
  • Babbs
  • Umana
  • McCall
  • Powell
  • Bush
  • Tank
  • The Composer
  • Umana
  • Rideout
3:30
12."Better Than Me"
  • Babbs
  • Hudson
  • Tank
  • Hudson
3:53
13."Lost It All"
  • Babbs
  • Hayes
  • Taylor
  • Hayes
  • Taylor
4:42
iTunes Store deluxe version[11]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
14."Underrated"
Tank3:56
15."Crazy" (featuring Kevin McCall)
  • Babbs
  • McCall
McCall3:39
16."Underrated" (music video)  4:02
Samples
  • "Lonely" contains elements of "My Heart Belongs to You" as performed by Jodeci.

Personnel

Credits for This Is How I Feel adapted from Allmusic.[12]

Charts

Release history

This Is How I Feel release history
Region Date Format Label Ref(s)
Various May 8, 2012 Atlantic [14]

References

  1. ↑ "This is How I Feel". Amazon. 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 "This Is How Tank Feels (Exclusive Interview)". youknowigotsoul.com. April 23, 2012. Retrieved July 30, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Compliments (feat. Kris Stephens) - Single by Tank". iTunes Store. Apple. October 17, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Next Breath - Single by Tank". iTunes Store. Apple. January 3, 2012. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
  5. 1 2 "This Is How I Feel – Tank". AllMusic. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  6. 1 2 Amidon, David (July 1, 2012). "Tank: This Is How I Feel". PopMatters. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  7. ↑ Stewart, Allison (May 17, 2012). "Tank: This Is How I Feel". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 30, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Tank Is 'Stronger' Than Ever at No. 1". Billboard.com. August 21, 2012. Retrieved July 30, 2026.
  9. 1 2 "Tank Album & Song Chart History: Billboard 100 Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
  10. 1 2 "Tank Album & Song Chart History: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
  11. ↑ "This is How I Feel (Deluxe Version) by Tank". iTunes. May 8, 2012.
  12. ↑ "This Is How I Feel - Tank: Credits: AllMusic". AllMusic.
  13. ↑ "R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Year End 2014". Billboard. January 2, 2013. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  14. ↑ "This Is How I Feel by Tank". Apple Music. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
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